Exercise: General Panacea
Contributed by L. Gordon
Everyone tells you to exercise. And there’s good reason. Getting the blood pumping and the muscles straining is an elixir for long and happy living. Skeptical? Read further:
- Exercise has been positively linked to decreasing the risk of heart attack, hypertension, diabetes, dementia, osteoporosis, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, depression, and 12 kinds of cancer.
- Regular, light exercise increases a person’s physical capacity to fight these disorders (and others) once acquired.
- Heart attack victims are encouraged to exercise to increase their oxygen capacity. Aerobics lowers blood pressure and increases circulation, which treats circulation disorders and prevents strokes.
- Although arthritis seems to prevent exercise, actually, exercise loosens the joints and reduces swelling.
- Following knee and hip replacements, exercise is the key to regaining complete joint use.
- Exercise releases pheromones which can combat depression.
- Exercise has been linked to the growth of neurons in the brain region connected to memory retention.
Sounds good enough yet? Exercise is important not only for a healthy body, but also for a healthy mind, both physically and emotionally. So get up and get moving!
